Tracey Cole

These Plants are Poisonous to Dogs and Cats!

We love our pets and it’s great to see them play and explore the garden, but just be aware that certain plants are poisonous, and in some cases, very dangerous if chewed or eaten!

Here are some of the most toxic plants that you need to avoid, or at least, make sure they are out of reach to your pet.
Syringa berry tree – Dogs love the ripe berries on this tree but these can damage a dog’s nervous system.
Lilies- Beautiful, fragrant plants that are extremely poisonous to both cats and dogs causing kidney failure. These include Arum, Clivia, Stargazer, Saint Joseph and Tiger.
Macadamia nut – is highly poisonous to dogs if the nuts or kernels of this tree are eaten by your pet.

The Chinkerinchee – A pretty plant but extremely extremely toxic to dogs and cats. It can cause severe diarrhoea and blindness.
The Oleander tree – A popular tree but unfortunately also extremely toxic to both cats and dogs, causing problems with their heart.
Cycad- A beautiful plant but the seeds in the cones cause liver damage.
Aloe Vera – Well known for its healing properties in humans it is very toxic to dogs and cats, causing vomiting and diarrhoea.

Azaleas – Very popular with gardeners but the leaves are very dangerous for both dogs and cats if eaten, affecting the heart, causing temporary blindness and weakness.Stinkblaar – The seed capsules are very dangerous and can be fatal.Euphorbia Tiriacalli – This plant releases a highly irritant sap when the stems are damaged which is corrosive to your pets eyes.

All this is quite alarming, but, with care and some precautions you can ensure your garden is a safe, happy place for your pet!

More advice and articles :

We at village gardens have a knowledge of all of your local edible plants here in South Africa. We can happily plant up your garden with edibles of all varieties from Mediterranean herbs and local indigenous edibles. We are surrounded by such stunning hardy indigenous plants, let’s get back to nature and have our own garden of local goodness.